Categories: TV NewsTV Ratings

Ratings: “How To Get Away with Murder” Tops “Scandal” in Viewers (Updated)

Update: The “How to Get Away with Murder” premiere was every bit the monster the overnight ratings suggested.

The new 10PM drama drew a whopping 3.9 adults 18-49 rating with 14.34 million viewers.  Even with its “Scandal” lead-in in the adults 18-49 demo, “Murder” drew a considerably larger audience.  “Scandal” averaged 12.16 million viewers in the 9PM slot.

Earlier in the night, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” drew a 3.1 rating with 10.14 million viewers.

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Everyone knew it would be big. Few likely anticipated it would be this big.

Thursday’s “How To Get Away With Murder” premiere drew a monstrous 9.7 overnight household rating.

Impressive in any circumstance, the number is rendered more astounding by virtue of the fact that it topped its “Scandal” lead-in. And with an 8.6 rating of its own, that juggernaut, which moved to the 9PM hour as part of ABC’s ShondaLand/”TGIT” lineup, did not pull any punches in the nightly ratings race.

Earlier in the night, “Grey’s Anatomy” delivered a strong 7.0 overnight rating in the 8PM hour.

Because “Murder” is expected to join “Scandal” and “Grey’s” in skewing toward young adult viewers, its strong 9.7 overnight household rating foretells a very impressive adults 18-49 number. That number–and the total viewership count–is due by noon.

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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Brian Cantor